Write a 2-3-pages, in APA 7 format.11 pt. Calibri font., with proper in-text citations. Include two to three (2–3) scholarly references published within the last 5 years to substantiate your work. Please provide a copy of all references, A.I., and plagiarism reports.
**See attachment for reference assignment**
Assignment Details:
Revise your Key Assignment draft using faculty and peer feedback. For your final draft, include the following information, focusing on the evaluation of the program once it is implemented:
- What type of data would be collected, and when?
- What tools or measures would be used to collect the data (e.g., surveys, questionnaires, pre and post assessments, town hall meetings. etc.)
- What would be used for evaluation (rates, mean, etc.)?
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Proposal: Addressing Hypertension Among African Americans in Georgia
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Proposal: Addressing Hypertension Among African Americans in Georgia
Hypertension has become one of the prevailing issues related to public health, particularly in Georgia's African American population. Hypertension elevates blood pressure levels and is a primary cause of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and renal failure. Georgia has a high population of African Americans, and this ethnic group is more predisposed to hypertension. This increased risk is partly due to socioeconomic differences, psychosocial stress, and neighborhoods where the promotion of healthy living is not supported. Managing these social determinants of health is important in decreasing hypertension and enhancing cardiovascular health among African Americans in Georgia. As the Program Manager, I am tasked with proposing an intervention to reduce the incidence and prevalence of hypertension in this vulnerable population. This proposal outlines a needs assessment, morbidity and mortality data, incidence and prevalence rates, and a tailored intervention program with a cost analysis.
Needs Assessment
Demographics
The African American population comprises a third of Georgia's total inhabitants. Most are found in urban settings like Atlanta, with clear distinctions in income levels (Health Resources and Services Administration, 2021). African Americans in Georgia are disadvantaged in poverty level, health cover, and education compared to their white neighbors. These factors raise the possibility of hypertension in this group of people.
Social Factors Increasing Risk
Poverty is a major social factor of high blood pressure in Georgia's African Americans. Low-income people eat high-calorie, low-nutrient, high-sodium diets because they cannot afford nutritious meals. Uncontrolled hypertension is also caused by poor healthcare access and not getting regular checkups. The fact that many Americans lack health insurance and only attend the hospital in emergencies exacerbates the problem. Hypertension also depends on race and ethnicity. Black Americans have high blood pressure due to genetics, racial prejudice, and other socioeconomic causes. Chronic stress, often resulting from systemic racism, causes long-term hypertension and related health complications. Many African American neighborhoods lack safe places to exercise and vitamin-producing greengrocers. The social variables create settings that encourage hypertension to develop and remain unmanaged.
Morbidity and Mortality Data
Hypertension is among the major causes of morbidity and mortality in African Americans in the state of Georgia. The disorder increases the risks for some prevalent conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure, especially in this population. According to Dunklin (2020), African Americans residing in Georgia are twice as likely to die from hypertension compared to their white counterparts. This disparity is attributed to genetic predisposition, socioeconomic issues, and reduced healthcare. Mortality rates from hypertension-related diseases are especially high in urban areas such as Atlanta, where the African American population is concentrated.
Incidence and Prevalence Data
African Americans in Georgia are particularly vulnerable to hypertension as the rates of incidence and prevalence are high. According to the national data, nearly 47% of African American adults suffer from hypertension, a figure that is higher than other ethnic groups. In Georgia, 40. 5 % percentage of African American adults said that they were advised by a health professional that they had high blood pressure (America's Health Rankings, 2024). Hypertension is common in this group because of conditions like obesity, diabetes, and chronic stress. The prevalence of hypertension in African Americans in Georgia is increasing because of increasing obesity and diabetes rates in this population.
Suggested Intervention Program with Cost Analysis
Proposed Intervention: Community-Based Hypertension Management Program
I propose the implementation of a community-based hypertension management program. This program will focus on three main components: education, screening, and treatment. The program will provide culturally relevant health information about hypertension, including healthy behaviors such as balanced diet, exercise, and stress management. Black-majority community centers, churches, and schools will provide educational sessions. Traditional gender and other health workshops will be led by qualified healthcare professionals and community health workers who understand most attendees. Secondly, the program will include periodic blood pressure screenings at convenient locations like community centers, churches, and small health clinics. The screenings will be free, and high blood pressure patients will be referred. The goal is to detect high blood pressure patients and connect them to appropriate healthcare. The initiative aims to provide affordable medication and therapy packages for hypertension patients. Collaboration with local pharmacists and healthcare practitioners will also be needed to ensure participants receive treatment. The program will also offer life-changing counseling, focusing on African American food and fitness.
Cost Analysis
The estimated cost of implementing this community-based hypertension management program is $2 million over three years. The budget will cover the following expenses:
Educational Materials and Workshops: $500,000
Screening Equipment and Personnel: $700,000
Medications and Treatment Services: $600,000
Program Administration and Evaluation: $200,000
This investment can be justified based on the potential healthcare cost savings for the prevention and management of hypertension. The program promises a reduction of both the incidence and prevalence rate of hypertension among African Americans in the state of Georgia and consequentially less hospitalization, ER visits, as well as long-term complications related to uncontrolled hypertension.
Justification and Explanation
Hypertension management is best for Georgia's African Americans for various reasons. Illiteracy, poor health care, and socioeconomic issues are contributors to hypertension. It empowers people to manage their health by educating them and providing affordable screening and treatment that fits their cultural values. Second, the program is adaptable and may be scaled up. The plan is to use community resources to implement the program and partner with other healthcare facilities to expand it across Georgia and tailor it to local communities. Considering the health and economic effects of hypertension, early detection and prevention are vital. Finally, the program improves the health of vulnerable populations and reduces health inequities, meeting adequate public health goals. The program targets vulnerable Georgia African Americans who have the most hypertension. The program addresses social determinants of health, which could greatly affect Georgia African Americans' health.
References
Health Resources and Services Administration. (2021). Georgia – 2021 – III.B. Overview of the State. Hrsa.gov. https://mchb.tvisdata.hrsa.gov/Narratives/Overview/ed19bd42-ea83-4b67-9f4c-ae20fddd08d5
America's Health Rankings. (2024). Explore High Blood Pressure in Georgia | AHR. America’s Health Rankings. https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/measures/Hypertension/GA?population=hypertension_Black
Dunklin, M. (2020). High blood pressure is increasingly deadly for Black people. Www.heart.org. https://www.heart.org/en/news/2020/07/13/high-blood-pressure-increasingly-deadly-for-black-people#:~:text=Black%20people%20had%20a%20nearly
